DJ Vice keeps party going at Tao at The Venetian

Eric Aguirre, aka DJ Vice, had the best training ground for his craft: live radio.

"I had to learn to mix without mistake," Aguirre says of the six years he spent on a Los Angeles radio station before making the jump to club DJing.

Aguirre, who splits his time between his hometown of L.A. and Las Vegas, spends Saturdays behind the turntable at Tao, where he has served as resident DJ since the club opened five years ago.

It's the perfect atmosphere for him, he says.

"I'm so lucky. When I get on at midnight, the crowd is already completely packed, the opening DJ has already set me up," Aguirre says. "It's so fun to walk in there and control the crowd's emotions and take them on a musical ride."

When Aguirre talks about music, his voice conveys the enthusiasm of a kid who's just discovered candy.

"I love it. I always say I'll retire when I get bored," says Aguirre, 32. "I'm not bored yet."

Inspired by a DJ he saw at a wedding when he was 10, Aguirre got his first turntables at the age of 13 and immediately started working backyard barbecues, weddings and birthday parties. His name, Vice, came from the dictionary.

"I started flipping through the pages. I'd kind of open it randomly and try out the words," he recalls.

At 18, he got the chance to fill a 30 minute slot on a radio station which turned in to a permanent gig. After a few years, the business changed and he felt it was time for him to do the same. The Vegas nightlife was taking off and, after doing some guest DJ slots in town, Aguirre saw an opportunity.

"I said to myself 'this is where it's going to be at,' " Aguirre says.

He still follows his early habits when he spins, choosing an open format as opposed to a single musical genre. Crowds are likely to hear everything from Journey to Jay-Z when Aguirre is behind the turntables.

"I say I'm a wedding DJ on steroids. I've really stuck to that format of pleasing everybody," he says.

If you haven't been to Tao in a while, things may look a little different. The property underwent renovations late last year, including a $200,000 sound and lighting system upgrade, says managing partner Jason Strauss.

Expect to see the same diverse crowd that has always frequented Tao. When Vice isn't spinning, guest DJs and special events keep the party going.

Dress code: Men must wear collared shirts. No baggy clothing, baseball caps or athletic wear. Club wear is best. Tao opens at 10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays at The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Cover charge varies.

For reservations or more information, call 388-8588.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.